Athens police were still investigating a weekend stabbing incident Monday that left one man hospitalized and another on the run.

Sgt. Trevor Harris said Terrence Smith, 28, of Apartment 126 of Bonnie Doone Apartments, Athens, was taken to the hospital by ambulance with stab wounds to his left chest, left, shoulder, forehead and kidneys. He said Smith was hospitalized overnight in Athens, but was released sometime this past weekend. He said the offender fled the scene, but was later apprehended and questioned by police.

“He (Smith) was very lucky,” Harris said. “He lost a lot of blood from the stabbing.”

Harris said police Monday questioned the man they believe stabbed Smith with a pocketknife during a fight on the grounds of the apartment complex. But he said that man, 22-year-old Lakerris Petty, also of Boonie Doone Apartments, has not yet been charged.

“The victim says he does not want to press charges against the offender,” Harris said. “We are still investigating and he has a year to change his mind since this is a felony offense. Charges could come later.”

Harris said Smith and Petty got into a fight Friday night and witnesses told investigators that a man was stabbed several times while on the ground.

He said when police arrived on the scene they found the victim walking out of another apartment unit.

“We think he ducked into that apartment for cover until police arrived,” Harris said.

Investigators plan to interview Smith today.

“I have a pretty good indication of what they were fighting about, but I’m going to wait and talk to the victim first,” said Harris. “A lot of witnesses to the fight scattered when police arrived on the scene. We ask that if anyone has information or the possible whereabouts of the weapon to give us a call.”